Arkansas Blog

Federal law brings more affordable care for women

The local Planned Parenthood affiliate issues a reminder about new preventive health care benefits available today under the federal Affordable Care Act. Please read and then explain to me why this is a bad thing.

Today marks a key milestone for women’s health under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Starting today, anyone on a new private insurance plan will be able to access birth control, well-woman exams and many other preventive services without a co-pay.

“We know how critical these benefits are for a woman and her family,” said Planned Parenthood of the Heartland President and CEO Jill June. “More than half of our patients are at or below the federal poverty level. These expanded benefits will provide essential preventive care and ease the strain on already stretched family budgets.”

The expanded women’s health services implemented today include no co-pays for cancer screenings, well-woman exams, pre-natal screenings, breast-feeding support, and screenings and counseling for domestic violence. A patient with a new private insurance plan is also eligible for birth control supplies and sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing without costly co-pays.

“The ACA is the greatest advance in women’s health in a generation,” said June. “Millions of women and their families will gain access to basic preventive care at no cost. Preventive services will no longer be a financial barrier in keeping our families and our neighbors healthy.”